Perforated key controlled lock



O 6, 4 c. VERDAN ,69 5.

PERFORATED KEY CONTROLLED LOCK Filed June 25, 1947 Patented Oct. 26,1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

The present invention relates to a lock and it is one of the objects of\"ie present invention to provide a lock wherein the operation of thebolt is controlled by at least one member in accordance with a secretcode.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a lock thecontrolling members of which comprise a key and at least one counterkeyand both said keys have indications as per forations, projections,surface deformations and the like disposed exactly in the same manner inaccordance with a predetermined code word or cipher provided for thelock.

It is still another object of th present inven- I tion, to provide alock in which the counter-key or counter-keys are housed permanentlyinside the lock in association with a suitable mechanism acting on thebolt while the operation of this mechanism, and consequently of thebolt, is rendered possible by the introduction of the key into the lockand the coordination made of the perforations or the like recordscarried by it with those of the counter-key, said coordination beingexecuted mechanically, electrically, electromechanically,electro-optically, pneumatically and/or hydraulically, etc.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent in thefollowing detailed description, the present invention will be clearlyunderstood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the key operating the lock;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a corresponding counterke Fig. 3 is afragmentary perspective view of the front face of the lock with the codekey and conventional key;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of the coordinating feeler mechanismbetween the key and counter-key.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the feeler mechanism indicating itsposition after complete insertion of the key into the lock;

Fig. 6 is a perspective top view of the key and counter-key with theintermediate feeler mechanism;

Fig. '7 is an elevation partly in section of the feeler mechanism incombination with the bolt operating mechanism;

F g. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the clutch mechanism for thelock bolt operator; and

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of the punching setting for the key.

Referring now to the drawings, an actual key I is used and acorresponding counter-key 2 removably and interchangeably housed in apermanent manner inside the lock. The key I and the coun- 2 ter-key 2are each of a thin blade of metal or other suitable material providedwith properly disposed indications, which in the present case compriseperforations 3 forming a system distributed in the same manner for bothkeys. (Figs. 1 to 4.)

l'he pattern obtained corresponds to a code word which in theillustrated case is the French word Univers. The location of eachperforation corresponds to a letter of the code word and its location isdefined longitudinally by the reference number of the letter in thealphabet and in the transverse direction across the blade surface by theplace of the letter considered in the code word.

If keys are used that allow distributing ten letters across andtwenty-five letters of the basic alphabet longitudinally, the number ofdifferent combinations that may be obtained is equal to 92,620 billions,as will be readily ascertained from the calculation of the combinationof ten variable elements forming the code word, that are adapted toassume each 25 different positions; in other words, the number ofcombinations is practically unlimited.

It is not always necessary to use a normal standard alphabet and anyother alphabet can be used including fancy alphbets wherein normalletters are classified in a fancy order. Similarly, the code word chosenneed not have any actual meaning and be simply constituted by anypredetermined sequence of letters that may be e. g. cut out of a word ora mnemotechnic coined word.

The counter-key 2, which is disposed in the upper portion of the lockhousing, is associated with a mechanism adapted to control elements ofthe lock for clutching a bolt operator to the lock bolt 20. When thelatter is in its closed or locking position, this mechanism retains thelock bolt 28 in its locking position. The release of the lock bolt 26 isbrought about by coordination of the records 3 on the key A andcounterkey 2 as provided by mechanical, electrical, electro-mechanical,electro-optical, pneumatic and/ or by hydraulic means or a combinationof two or more such means and the bolt 2!] is conditioned for releasewhen a key 1 having records identical with those of the counter-key 2has been inserted into the lock housing.

While any one or a combination of the mentioned different means may beused as feeler or comparison means between the respective records of thekey and counter-key, the drawing discloses by example only mechanicalfeeler means.

The feeler means comprise substantially a pluralit of runners l each ofwhich is slidably mounted on a longitudinally disposed rod 5. All rods 5are arranged parallel in a horizontal plane spaced apart from each otherbelow the counterkey 2, so that each runner 4 may assume any positionopposite a corresponding imaginary 1ongitudinal line on the counter-key2. Each runner 4 is equipped with an upwardly extending pin 6 whichsupports the counter-key 2 in its raised inoperative position.

A pawl-like member I is pivoted to the bottom portion of each of therunners 4 and extends in the plane of and close to a crosswise disposedhorizontal slot 2I of the outer lock-plate 22, the slot 2I being adaptedto receive the key I when inserted into the lock. A slide 8 of a widthto extend below all the runners 4, when the latter are in their forwardinoperative position, is provided below the runners 4 and. carries aplate 9 having a front flange 9 and a rear flange 9, which flange 9 isadapted to bring about the return forward movement, respectively, of thedifferent runners 4 along the rods by engagement of the flange 9 withthe runners 4.

When inoperative, the feeler mechanism assumes the position illustratedin Fig. 4 in which the key I is about to enter the slot 2I of the lockplate 22 upon movement of the key I by hand in the direction of thearrow a. This movement of the key I is continued until the pawllikemember i of each runner 4, which normally rests by means of gravity orby means of spring pressure (not shown) on the flange 9 of the plate 9,travels on the top face of the key I along a longitudinal imaginary linethereon until the hook end of the pawl-like member 'I of each of therunners 4 engages the corresponding perforation 3 provided in the key I.The gravity or spring pressure exerted upon the pawl-like member Iretains the latter in the respective perforations 3 of the key I.

The continued movement of the key I in the direction of the arrow a intothe lock housing through its slot 2 I, results in the rearward movementof the respective runners 4, one after the other immediately uponlocking the hook end of each of the pawl-like members 'I with thecorresponding perforations 3 of the key I. The rearmost runner 4 engagesthe flange 9 of the plate 9 of the slide 3 and moves the latter likewisein rearward direction against the operation of an expansion spring 8 bymeans of an intermediate cable 8 or the like, one end of which issecured to the spring 8 while its other end is secured to the bottom ofthe slide 8. In this manner the respective runners 4 will assumepositions corresponding with the pattern of the perforations 3 on thekey I. At. the end of the inward stroke of the key I, the pins 6 of therespective runners 4 will be disposed opposite the perforations 3 of thecounter-key 2, provided that key I and counter-key 2 are equipped withan equal pattern of perforations 3. It is apparent that the perforations3 of the counter-key 2 will not be exactly opposite those of the key I.The respective corresponding perforations will rather be spaced apartfor the longitudinal distance between the pins 6 and the hook ends oftheir corresponding pawl-like members 'I.

When the key I reaches the end of the inward stroke, the counter-key 2,which in its raised inoperative position was supported by the pins 6, islowered by gravity or by a leaf spring 6' or by any other suitablemechanism into its operative position. It is to be noted that allperforations 3 of the key I must conform to those of the counter-key 2,since if only one single pin 6 of the runners 4 does not find anopposite perforation 3, lowering of the counter-key 2 is prevented.Thus, the lowering of the counter-key 2 may be used as a conditioningmeans for moving the bolt from its closed position to its open position,thereby opening the lock.

There are known a great number of conventional bolt operators either ofwhich could be used in connection with the present invention, whichprovides elements controlled by the keys and counter-keys for clutchingthe mentioned bolt operator. One such clutching structure is disclosedin the drawing, though the present invention is not limited to suchspecific structure.

The front plate 2| of the lock is provided with a hole 23 for aconventional key M which upon its insertion into the key-hole 23 isconnected for common turning to a disk I0 having at its periphery anotch I0 the disk I0 being mounted to be turned with respect to a seconddisk I I by means of the key M.

As stated above, the counter-key 2 rests in its inoperative position onthe pins 6 of the respective runners 4 and in addition is kept in itsraised position by means of a rod I5 pivoted thereto and extendingdownwardly therefrom, which rod I5 is pivoted at its lower end to onearm of a two armed lever I6 which is pivotally mounted in the lockhousing. The pivotal connection between the rod I5 and the lever I6 issuch that a small amount of lost motion is provided for reasons whichwill hereinafter appear. The lever I6 is under the influence of a springI6 which tends to turn the lever I6 clockwise in such manner that therod I5 is thereby raised.

When upon insertion of the key I the runners 4 are brought in the properpositions due to the respective perforations 3 in the key I, in whichpositions the pins 6 of the runners 4 are exactly opposite theequivalent perforations of the counter-key 2, provided of course thatthe correct key I having the same pattern of perforations 3 as that ofthe counter-key 2 has been used, the counter-key 2 is lowered, since thepins 6 may now enter the perforations of the counter-key 2. Thislowering movement of the counter-key 2 is made possible, because thecomparatively weak spring I6 cannot balance the weight of thecounter-key 2 together with the rod I5. The lowering movement of thecounter-key 2 brings about a turning of the double-armed lever I6 uponits pivot counter-clockwise and, thereby, frees another angular lever I1pivoted in the lock housing and disposed adjacent the lever I6 (Fig.'7). One arm of the lever I'I carries a pin I'I adjacent its outer endand a second pin I'I intermediate the said pin I! and the pivot point ofthe lever H. The lever I'I turns in clockwise direction by gravity,spring pressure (not shown) or any other suitable means, which turningmovement is prevented, as long as the end of one arm of the lever I6engages the pin I1 of the lever II. The counter-clockwise movement ofthe lever I6 frees the engagement between the lever I6 and the pin IIand conditions the clockwise turning movement of the lever II. The endof the arm of the lever II which carries the pin I'I adjacent its end isformed to an inwardly projecting hook I1 A clutch-pawl I2 is turnablymounted on a pivot I3 secured to the front face of the disk I I, whichclutch-pawl I2 has a hook extension I2 at one end, adapted to engage thenotch II) of the disk I0, while its other is set-off for engagement withone end of a flat spring I4, the other end of which is secured to a boltI4 secured to the disk I I. The clutch-pawl I2 carries adjacent the hookextension I2 a pin I2 which is adapted to be normally engaged by thehook I1 of the lever IT. The fiat spring I4 tends to move the hookextension I2 of the clutch-pawl I2 towards the periphery of the disk Iand in particular into the notch III thereof in order to couple thedisks I0 and II for common rotation.

The clockwise movement of the lever II disengages its hook I1 from thepin I2 and, thereupon, the clutch-pawl I2 is turned clockwise by meansof the flat spring I4 so that the hook extension I? engages theperiphery of the disk I0. Upon turning the disk ID with respect to thedisk II by means of the conventional key M, the disk II stands stilland, therefore, the hook extension I2 of the clutch-pawl I2 will slideon the periphery of the disk III until the hook extension I2 will reacha position opposite the notch III of the disk III and will engage thenotch II) and, thereby, bring about the coupling of the disks I0 and II.

The continued turning of the key M will now turn simultaneously the diskI0 and I I and a bolt II extending from the disk II can now cooperate inknown conventional manner with a lever 24 having a forked end 24 forreceiving the bolt H and which lever 24 is pivotally connected to therear end of the lock bolt 20.

As indicated before, the lowering of the counter-key 2 brings about acounter-clockwise turning of the lever I 6 and consequently a clockwiseturning of the lever IT. The turning of the lever I! will continue untilits pin I 1 engages the downwardly extending arm of the lever I6. Uponremoval of the key I, the efiort of the spring I6 and the tendency ofthe lever I! to swing clockwise is now sufliicent to overcome the weightof the counter-key 2 and of the rod I5 and to lift the counter-key 2again to its original raised position. Since the pins 6 of therespective runners 4 are now removed from the perforations 3 of thecounter-key 2 the spring 8 will return the slide 8 to its original frontposition and the flange 9 of the plate 9" secured to the slide 8 willlikewise return the runners 4 into their original front position.

The turning of the key M in counter-clockwise direction, opens the lockbolt and in clockwise direction closes the lock bolt 2|] provided thatthe disks I0 and II are in coupled position. In order to bring the lockbolt 20 again into its closed or locking position, the key M and,thereby, the disks I0 and II, are turned in clockwise direction,thereby, upon engaging the forked end 24' with the bolt H operating thelever 24 and moving the lock bolt 20, until the pin II! of theclutch-pawl I2 engages and raises the substantially horizontallydisposed arm of the lever II. This movement results in the locking ofthe lever I! by engagement of the endof the downwardly extending arm ofthe lever IS with the pin I 1 of the lever I1. When the bolt 20 reachesits closed position, the bolt II is disengaged from the forked end 24'of the lever 24 and the latter stands still while the bolt I I continuesto turn with the disk I I. Upon continued turning of the disk II, thepin I2 engages now the hook I7 of the lever I! and the latter turns theclutch-pawl I2 on the pivot I3 against the efforts of the flat spring I4from its coupling position into its uncoupling position and, thus,restores the original position, in which the key M turns again withoutoperating the lock bolt. Now the bolt 20 remains in looking position.

In order to move the bolt 20 from its locking position into itsunlocking position, the key I is 6. inserted and upon reaching its'endposition, the lever I6 will perform a movement in counterclockwisedirection, whereby, the lever H with its downwardly extending arm willnow perform a movement in clockwise direction. Due to the last mentionedmovement the clutch-pawl I2 is also released and assumes a positionengaging the periphery of disk II] to enter the notch I0 and coupletogether the disks I0 and II upon moving the key M in counter-clockwisedirection. When the bolt II reaches the extreme right position, it willenter the forked end 24 of lever 24 and bring about upon continuedcounter-clockwise movement of the key M for the return of the lock bolt20 into its unlocking position. The pin I2 of the clutch-pawl I2 liftsthe substantially horizontally disposed arm of the lever I1 and,thereby, restores the relative locking position between levers I6 andII.

It is apparent that if the pattern provided on the key and counter-keyis identical, the shifting of the counter-key may be performed freelywhereas any slight difference between the patterns of the key andcounter-key prevents such a movement.

Consequently this possible movement of the counter-key may be made useof for controlling mechanically or otherwise the opening of the lockthrough a shifting of its bolt. To obtain this result, numeroussolutions are possible.

It should be pointed out that the selective perforations in the key andcounter-key may be obtained by means of an ordinary punching machinewherein each depression of the punch controls a step in the intermittentprogression of the blade forming the key or counter-key in a directionperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said blade, so that after eachperforation the punch can only operate on a longitudinal line of theblade that has not yet been submitted to perforation.

In the example illustrated, only two record carriers are provided; butof course it is possible to consider the provision of more than two ofsuch parts and, instead of forming the records by means of a system ofperforations, projections, deformations of the blades and the like maybe resorted to. Similarly it is possible to apply the invention totechnical problems different from that of locks; In particular, thecontrol of the shifting of mechanical parts in a machine of any type maybe obtained through comparision of similar records, as disclosedhereinabove in its application to the case of looks.

The present invention allows also assocation of v the lock or like partswith the operation-of mas- I ter-keys. For instance, such a master-keymay be designed as follows: the individual key or keys and themaster-key or keys are designed according to different patterns. Thecounter-keys of each lock are then provided in superposition with twosystems of perforations of which one corresponds to that of anindividual key and the other to the general pattern of the master-key.In the case of sub-master keys, that is of master-keys corresponding toonly one group of looks, it is sufiicient to provide in each counter-keyin addition to its individual pattern of perforations, the pattern ofperforations providing cooperation with the desired sub-master keys thatare to open the corresponding lock, in accordance with the requirementsof the case considered as concerns the grouping of different locks.

While I havedisclosed several embodiments of the present invention, itis to be understood that these embodiments are given by example only andnot in a limiting sense, the scope of the invention being determined bythe objects and the claims.

I declare that what I claim is:

1. In a lock, a housing, a key adapted to be removably inserted into thesaid housing, at least one counter-key disposed in the said housing andadapted to be moved from its inoperative raised position into itsoperative lowered position, means for supporting the said counter-key inits inoperative raised position, both said key and said counter-keybeing provided with a system of identical indication means, the said keybeing adapted to be arranged in superposed position in respect to thesaid counter-key, feeler means coordinated to the said indication meansof the key and counter-key, the said feeler means being adapted to bedisposed between the said key and the said counter-key and to be movedfrom their front inoperative position to their operative positionforming a pattern equivalent to that of the said indication means of thesaid key and the said counter-key, the said feeler means including meansfor setting up the pattern of the said feeler means equivalent to thesaid indication means of the key and counter-key in cooperation with theindication means of the said key to bring the said feeler means intoregistration with the indication means of the said counter-key in orderto permit the releasing movement of the latter from its raisedinoperative position into its lowered operative position, means forreturning the said feeler means into their original positions uponraising the said counter-key into its raised inoperative position, alock bolt mounted for reciprocation in the said housing, a lock boltoperator disposed in the said housing, and means controlled by themovement of said counter-key to its lowered opertive position forclutching the said bolt operator to the said lock bolt.

2. In a look, a housing, a key formed of metal sheet adapted to beremovably inserted into said housing, at least one counter-key formed ofmetal sheet disposed in the said housing and adapted to be moved fromits inoperative raised position into its operative lowered position,both said key and said counter-key being provided with a system ofidentical indication means comprising perforations in the said metalsheets, the said key being adapted to be arranged in superposed positionin respect to the said counter-key, feeler means coordinated to the saidindication means of the key and counter-key, the said feeler means beingadapted to be disposed between the said key and the said counter-key andto be moved from their front inoperative position to their operativeposition forming a pattern equivalent to that of the said indicationmeans of the said key and the said counter-key, the said feeler meansincluding means for setting up the pattern of the said feeler meansequivalent to the said indication means of the key and counter-key incooperation with the indication means of the said key to bring the saidfeeler means into registration with the indication means of the saidcounter-key in order to permit the releasing movement of the latter fromits raised inoperative position into its lowered operative position,means for returning the said feeler means into their original positionsupon raising the said counter-key into its raised inoperative position,a lock bolt mounted for reciprocation in the said housing, a lock boltoperator disposed in the said housing, and means controlled bythemovement of said counter-key to its lowered operative position forclutching the said bolt operator to the said lock bolt.

3. The lock, as set forth in claim 1, in which the said feeler meansinclude second means constituting the said supporting means for thecounter-key in its inoperative position as well as the registrationmeans with the indication means of the said counter-key in its operativeposition.

4. In a lock, a housing, a key formed of a metal sheet adapted to beremovably inserted into said housing, at least one counter-key formed ofmetal sheet disposed in the said housing and adapted to be moved by itsown weight from its inoperative raised position into its operativelowered position, both said key and said counter-key being provided witha system of identical perforations, the said key being adapted to bearranged in superposed position in respect to the said counterkey,feeler means comprising runners coordinated to the said perforations ofthe key and counterkey, the said runners being adapted to be disposedbetween the said key and the said counter-key and to be moved by meansof the said key upon its insertion into the said housing from theirfront inoperaitve position to their operative position forming a patternequivalent to that of the said perforations of the said key and the saidcounterkey, each of the said runners having an upwardly projecting pinsupporting the said counter-key in its raised inoperative position andwhen registering with the corresponding perforation of the saidcounter-key being received by the said perforation when the saidcounter-key is assuming its lowered operative position, the said runnershaving further a pawl-like member pivoted thereto adapted to enter thecorresponding perforation of the said key upon insertion of the latterinto the said housing and to move the said runner carrying the saidpawl-like member into its proper,

pattern position to bring the said pins of the runners into registrationwith the said perforations of the said counter-key in order to permitthe releasing movement of the latter from its raised inoperativeposition into its lowered operative position, means for returning thesaid runners into their original front position upon raising the saidcounter-key into its raised inoperative position, a lock bolt mountedfor reciprocation in the said housing, a lock bolt operator disposed inthe said housing, and means controlled by the movement of saidcounter-key to its lowered operative position for clutching the saidlock bolt operator to the said lock bolt.

5. The look, as set forth in claim 4, in which the said returning meansfor the said runners comprises a spring biased slide having an upwardlyextending flange, the said slide being moved together with the rearmostof the said runners when the latter assumes its operative position,while the return of the said slide by means of spring action will bringthe said flange of the said slide successively into engagement with allsaid runners and return the latter into their front inoperativeposition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,019,844 Sauleiko Mar. 12, 1912 2,301,155 Sebestyan et alNov. 3, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 401,151 Germany Aug.26, 1924

